Locking means for motor-vehicle steering-gear.



0. W. G. HOLIIIIGREIII.

UNI-KING MEANS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE STEERING GEAR.

v .m/I/En/Tbk WM M MK to nature have contemplatedthejrigid locking ativepositiong and ti o; notrrearn', or new rear, 1hr. tocnrrte tars roe troroa vnnretn STRING-GE.

tfitthflfifi, specification orteaemrarear. p t t a oaty, a lication filed tune 9, m7. herialhl'o. rzaeea.

i of attachment to any motor vehicle steering t5 Be it known that I, Urro Wnmratt G. gear; which will be durable and efiicient in- HoLMeRnN, a citizen of-the United States, operation, presenting the minimum of ,lia residingat Jamaica, New York city, in the bility to disorder; and which, by reasonof t county of Queensand State of New York, its advantages, will contribute toward the have invented a certain new and useful I'mlengthening of the life of the wheel tires and rove'ment'. in Locking Means for Motor-I other parts of the vehicle.

ehicle Steering-Gear, of which the follow- With :the above and other objects in view ing is a specification. i 4 j .I have devised the steering gearlocking dcto My invention relates to steering gear for vicefpractical embodiments of which are To all whom it may concern:

motor vehicles, and has to do particularly shown in the accompanying drawing, formwith means for facilitating-the operation of ing a part, otthis: speclfication, in whichsuchsteering gear by providing a constantly Figure 1 shows a side elevatiom'partly in operable resilient locking arrangement section, of a portion of a motor vehicle show- Jlt therefor which will afford maximum iming the steering column and shaft with mymunity from the transmission of driving improved locking device applied thereto I strains fromthe steering wheel to the hands Fig. 2, a plan view, taken myths line 2-2 of the operator. of Fig.1, looking in the dlreetion of the Previously designed constructions of this arrows, showing the locking, device in oper-' of the steering-gearf in its various positions, F g. 3, a view simil' to Fig.2, partly in such apparatus,-however, possessing the desect1on, of a modified ioi'm of my invention. feet that the steering gear islsubject to in- In the drawing, aieferringhrst to Figs. jury v whenever .the guided wheels of the 1 and 2, is shown aportion of the main 2t vehicleengage an obstruction with any deframe or'chassis l of afinotor vhicl'efprogree of violence. Other constructions have vided with the usual" steering wheel and to essayed the intermittent locking of the column 2. The columnttholises the steering steering gear in position by independently wheel shaft 3, to which. the steering wheel operated means,- this type, however in order is secured, and thisxshaftfi connects with-the to to operate eiiiciently, practically requiring usual] mdmgWheeldpet-ating levers (not attention equal to that given theoperation shownithe connections lthereto being of the vehicle itself. 7 housed in the gear casing 4. ll-have shown ast'eering gear lockingarrangement adaptto the shaft Batapoint just below the foot at able to all types of motor vehicles whereby board 5 of the-vehicle. Secured to thesteer the drivin' wheel strainsmaybe absorbed jing shaft -3,and adapted*torotatetherewith, to and theve icle easily and smoothly guided, is a circular disk or cam wheel 6, this cam it even being possible for the operator to re- I wheel bein shown'as of twoparts", for con movehis hands from the steering wheel'on venience o attachment to the shaft 3, and

an emergent occasions with, a greater measure being journaled .to the shaft by. means ofof safety than is otherwise possible. the collared portions/Z projecting centrally Another object is to obviate, the defects therefrom, which collared portions are of prior} constructions, mentioned, by-pro bolted or otherwise secured together in a .viding a steering gear locking means which ,mannerto prevent rotation of the cam Wheel th will be positive in its action and continu on the shaft 3. The'periphery-of the cam ously operable to automatically lock the wheel 6 is providedw1th a series of depres- Steering gear in'various adjusted positions; sions or'recesses 8 and-projecting" portions without requiring the slightest attention on 9, these projecting portions 9 forming small the jiiart sof the operator, but whichwill, cam-s torja' purpose to be hereinafter detit however, bepossessed or suficientresiliency scribed.

to yield under extraordinary stresses, Attached to'the chassis 1 in any desired Further-objects are to provide a device hf, manner is a base plate or bracket portion 10.

this character which .will'he low in cost of On this base plate 10 istastened the amt or production, simple. inconstruction and easy my construction which cohperates w th the "the object-of my invention i s'to provide my Impr ved arrangement as being. attached Fthe position assumed against displacement cam wheel 6. This comprises a plate 11, havinga flanged portion 12 uprising therefrom -plate 11 and flanged portion- 12.

I and,-at-one end, adepending arm portion 13. 'p'ivotally securedarm 14 is attached at the p-ivot'point' 15 between the ends of the lower forked end the pivoted arm14 carries I a roller 16, which roller is arranged to ride v over the projecting portions 9 and find'lodgment in the recesses 8 of the cam wheel as the shaft is rotated. A compressible spring 17 of considerable tension is utilized to maintain'th e roller 16 on the swinging arm 11 in' close -locking engagement with the depressions' in the cam wheel 6. This spring 17, asyvill be seen, rests on a pin seat 18 on the arm 14=,a seat'of similar form beingpro- Vided on the head of a screw 19 threaded in the free end .of the arm 13. Adjustment of the screw 19 tends to regulate the compression-of the spring17, and a nut 20 on the portion-"of the screw'17 projecting-beyondthe arm 13,-which nut may be oflocking construction, serves to maintain the adjustment of the regulating screw-19.

' The intention of the constructionso far described will be readily apparent. As the steering shaft 3', and hence the cam wheel 6.

are rotated, the roller 16 will traverse the periphery of the cam wheel 6, the degree of' ,curv-a-ture' of the projectionsbeing calculated to permit the rollerto ride comparatively "easilythereover. When the steering wheel Ian'd shaft are'brought-to rest the roller 16 will find lodgment in one of the depressions 8 of the 'cam Wheel 6. The engagement of theroller with the cam wheel constitutes no impediment to the free movement of the steering .wheel and shaft, but is sufliciently powerful to lock the steering shaft in through any ordinary unevenness in the means, the locking roller will yield shouldpath o'fthe vehicle tending to throw the guided'wheels out of alinement and causing -vlbration'of the steering wheel. -However,

by reason of the resiliency of the retaining goneof the'guided wheels accidentally strike some 'eonsider'able obstruction, such as a in the c'am wheel permit of the, locking of tage' when the'device' is used withmotor vestreet curb, thereby preventing the disarrangement of orserious'injury to the steering gear; The positions of the depressions the steering shaft-through a widerange of adjustment, this-being of particular advanhicles which are required to travel inpaths whichdeviate from a straight-ahead direction to a greater. or lesser 'degree that1hereinbeiore ,desgrib therefromconsisting the provision lfof, a 's'pringrllpressed plunger .ifor jlfever 2l -lvvhich' operates in all'e'ssential'res ects simi-larl to ratmodified form illustrated b *rig; a

r ei ie te ries lt.

At its the; departure-f by the operation of the driving wheel, in place of the pivoted arm 14. This plunger 21' carries a roller 22 which is held in opera tive relationship with the-cam wheel as follows. A plate 23, having ears'2 1 and 25 uprising from its ends, is secured to the base plate 10, and these cars are-centrally bored to receive the plunger 21. The plunger 21 is provided with a. flange portion 26 at a point adjacent to its forward end, and a hollow screw 27, forming'a bearing and guide for the other end of the plunger, is threaded in the ear 25. This screw 27 has a flanged head 28 which cooperates with the flange 26 to maintain under compression a spring 29,

which surrounds the plunger 21 between these fiangesto hold' the roller 22 in engageonly a portion of its periphery, this form being adaptable to steering rods which do not make a complete revolution in operation.

While my invention is here shown in connection with a motor vehicle steering gear it is adaptable to any other form of steering gear where a locking means of the character describedis desirable, and it is to be understood that the present showing and description disclose only certain specific embodiments of my invention, and that other forms andfmodifications are included within the spirit and scope thereof, as expressed in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a .motor vehicle steering gear, the. combination with the steering shaft of a circular cam rigidly secured thereto, and means continuously engaging said cam to successively lock the steering shaft against unintentional movement in various ad usted positions.

-2. A motor vehicle steering gear compris ing, in combination, a steering shaft, a cam wheel secured to and rotating therewith,

said c'am wheel being provided with peripheral recesses, and a member adapted to successively find lodgment in said recesses as the shaft is rotated to lock thesteering shaft in various adjusted positions.

"3. ..In-a.motor'vehic1e steering gear, 'in' combination, a steering shaft, 'a cam wheel secured toand rotating with said shaft, the. saidcam wheel being provided withfrecesse's I along its peripheralecl e,.amemher'secured cessively find-lodgment'in saidjrecess'es; and= "means {ior'fcontinuonsly maintaining ,said 13 0 mag-rat member in engagement with said cam wheel to lock the steering shaft against unintentional movement.

4'. A motor vehicle steering gear comprising, in combination, a steering shaft, a cam Wheel secured to and rotating with said shaft, the said cam wheel being provided with recesses along its peripheral edge, a member secured adjacent to said cam wheel carrying a roller, and spring pressed means arranged to maintain said roller in engagement with one of said depressions to lock the steering shaft against unintentional movement. j 5. A motor vehicle steering gear comprismg, in combination, cular cam secured thereto, a roller carrying member supported adjacent tosaid shaft, spring pressed means for maintaining said roller in engagement with said cam, and

means for regulating the compression of sa1d spring pressed means.

In a motor vehicle steering gear, the

combination with the steering shaft of a,

thereto and adapted to.

circular cam secured rotate therewith, said cam having peripheral recesses and projections, a late mounted adjacent to said cam, said p ate supporting a roller carrying member, spring pressed means for maintaining said roller carrying member in engagement with said cam, and

' means forregulating the tension of said All spring pressed means.

In a motor vehicle steering gear, the combination with the steering shaft of. a two-part circular cam, said. cam being pro vided witha series of depressions and projections along its peripheral edge, a plate.

mounted adjacent to said cam, said plate carrying member,

supporting a roller spring pressed means for maintaining said roller in engagement with the peripheral depressions of said cam and means for reg ulating the tension of said spring pressed means. 8. A motor vehicle steering gear comprising in combination, a steering shaft, a peripherally recessed member secured thereto and rotating therewith, and a pivoted arm continuously engaging said member to lock the steering shaft against unintentional movement.

9. A motor vehicle steering gear, comprising, in combination, a steering shaft, a peripherally recessed and rotating therewith, and a spring pressed ing, in combination, ripherally recessed a steering shaft, a cir-...

member secured thereto to and rotating therewith, a plate mounted adjacent to said .member,

'said plate supporting a pivoted arm,

and spring pressed means for maintaining saidarm n engagement with said member.

11. A motor vehicle steering gear comprisa steering shaft, a pemember secured thereto and rotating therewith, an arm pivoted ad- .jacent to said member, spring pressed means for maintaining said pivoted arm in engagement with said member, and means for regulating the tension of said spring pressed means.

. 12. A motor vehicle steering gear comprising, in combination, a steering shaft, a

peripherally recessed membersecured thereto and rotating therewith, a roller carrying arm pivoted adjacent to said member, spring pressed means for maintaining said am in engagement with said member, and means for regulating the tension of said spring pressed means. i V

13. A motor vehicle steering gear comprising, in combination, a steeringshaft, a peripherally recessed member, secured thereto and. rotating therewith, and a plate mounted adjacent to said member, said platesupporting a spring pressed locking member continuously engaging the periphery of said first named member to look ing shaft against unintentional movement.

14. A motor vehicle steering gear comprising, in combination, a steering shaft, a. peripherally recessed membersecured theretoand rotating therewith and a spring 1 pressed locking member engaging said first named member to lock the steering shaft against unintentional movement.

15. A motor vehicle steering gear comprising, in combination, a steering shaft, a peripherally recessed member secured thereto and rotating therewith, and alocking member continuously engagingsaidpe-' ripherally recessed member to lock the shaft in various adjusted positions.

the steer- All In testimony whereof, have hereunto set my hand.

0W0 WILLIAM Gr. HULMGREN, 

